The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-04-20
THE FUNNEL SHAPED CLOUD.
Cyclone Visits Illinois and Destroys a
Million Do1Iars's Worth of Property.

ST. CLAIRsvILLE, ILL.,, April 15.-A
storm was felt at 3:15 and appeared to be
travelling from the west and in the shape
of funnel formed mass Of clouds. resem-
bling in appearance dense black smoke.
The cone was downward and could be
plainly traced over its track by the de-
struction it left. Houses were demOraized,
trees snapped off like pipe stems. horses
and cattle Frustrated and carried bodily
hundreds OF yards by the gale and the sky
was darkened with clouds OF flying debris.
The storm and its effects showed all the
distinguishing characteristics OF Il western
cyclone. No casualties to persons are re-
ported, the funnel shaped cloud having
been seen approaching in time for fami+
lies TO take refuge in cellars. The loss
will reach 81 900, 900. The Western Union
ed in the street were blown about like
chatf' and the vehicles demolished. A
scantling sailed through the air for Il mile
and cut as clean hole i'll two walls Of a
brick house as a cannon ball would. Shin
giles were driven through weather board
ing like arrows. At Bnrton's station,
four miles north, new brick house was
leveled to the ground At Hacoe, five
miles west of this city, on the National
road, the brick house of A. Helkle was
demolished and he was badly hurt. A
lar oF In hot Iar md
Clairsvlle has not a tree uninjured. Most
of them are fiat on the ground. The town
of BRIDGEPORT, just across the river, escap-
ed as did Wheeling, but funeral was in
the cemetery on the hill top at the time
and the CARRIAGES were blown over and
against the trees. Morton ferry, on the
opposite side of the river at the north end
of town, suffered more severely than St.
Clairsvlle. Here broad valley gave dl-
rection to the destroying gale which de-
stroyed forests and farm houses and scat
tered fences in its path down the hollow,
widening out as it struck the little city
and scattering destruction every where.
Every few minutes the news comes Of adj
ditional damage in the country and it is
safe to say that the aggregate loss will ex-
ceed million dollars.
WHEELING, w. Va, April 16.-When
the whirlwind struck st. Clairsville it was
split into two. The destruction at that
place was, if anything, underestimated.
No adequate idea can be conveyed in
words of the scene of ruin and destruc-
ton. The streets are streWn with wreck
age, and in some places the roads are i'm
passable with broken trees, prostrated tel
egraph poles and wire and fences. There
were a lot of sightseers at st. Clairsville
to-day. Telegraphic communication has
been cut of. and great anxiety prevails.
Two casualties were reported last night;
to-day the following are reported: c. w.
Troll, arms fractured; j. w. Reilly, right
leg broken; little son of S. w. Cochran,
fatally injured. Major Davidson, of St.
Clairsville, to-day sent out an appeal for
financial help.
At Martins Ferry the distress is even
greater than at ST. Clairsville, the losers
being in most cases poor working people.
Nearly fifty souls have no shelter except
what is afforded by the skating rink at
their disposal.
Mail Contracts.